This past Mother’s Day, Mr. Penn and his family removed Confederate flags from the graves of Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Mr. Penn, fully aware of the Confederate flag’s historical significance as a symbol for the deplorable institution of slavery in the Southern United States, mentioned that he removed the flags for his 4-year-old son. “The reason why we picked them up is because the image of the flags in our community, a lot of people feel that they’re a symbol of divisiveness and oppression of many people in our community,” Penn said. “Especially with the history that that flag and the connotation and negativism that it brings. I would think that no one in our community would have a problem with this or with my actions at all.” he says.

Of course, the white supremacists of the town were incensed at Mr. Penn’s decision to remove the flags from the grave sites. One white woman named Rebecca Atkins, said “It’s not about race or the flag or anything else. It’s about decency and respect for the dead. You don’t do stuff like that,” says Atkins, who also has family members who were Confederate soldiers. “You got to give respect where it’s deserved and those soldiers gave their lives just like any other soldier gives their lives. It’s nothing racial and it’s not about discrimination. You look at the person who served for our country and that’s what matters.”

White supremacists in that particular area are currently organizing to voice their opposition against the decision. A group organized on Facebok by the name of the Defenders of the Confederate Cross is planning a protest in Union Springs next month. It is scheduled to take place June 19-20. Although the white supremacist parties involved in this situation allege that they mean no harm towards Mr. Penn, recent events occurring around the country involving the murders of Melanoid people at the hands of members of the dominant society would imply otherwise. Let us keep in mind that many of the white supremacists in Union Springs, Alabama who defend their opposing stance against Mr. Penn’s decision are the same individuals who support and identify with the white supremacists who wish harm–and in many instances death–upon the innocent Melanoid youth who demonstrated their frustrations with this racist system by walking on the American flag in Albany, Georgia last month.

Follow this link to get the story on Myron Penn, and his fight against the racist citizens of Union Springs, Alabama.

by B. Clark